To develop environmental education in Australia, a survey of tenth-grade students was undertaken. Thirty knowledge items and ten belief items were constructed. A panel of environmentalists and educators identified best responses for the knowledge items, and a common reference point, preservation of homo sapiens, for the belief items, so a composite attitude measure was obtainable. SMOG grading was employed to insure grade 10 readability. A total of 30 students, in 174 schools in 6 Australian states, comprised the sample population. On 10 of 20 items, 50 percent or more students selected the best alternative, with greatest knowledge in the area of population. Misunderstandings occurred in resource use, pollution, and radiation. In 6 of 9 belief items, 50 percent or more agreed with preservation of homo sapiens, supporting statements about individual rights. Catholic schools were less in favor of family planning; females supported this issue. Metropolitan students were more aware of pollution, and residential students of traffic accidents. A .28 correlation existed between knowledge and belief items--significant, considering sample size. Australian students appeared as knowledgeable as their American counterparts, but deficiencies and misunderstandings are evident. (BP)